Research Opportunities - The Water School

We Welcome Scientists From Diverse Fields

Vester offers awards for supporting scientists from other institutions to conduct short- or long-term research at our unique facility.

The awards cover laboratory and boat use, on-site housing (bunk beds to single bedroom accommodations) and instrument use at the field station.

Laboratory space, boat use, on-site housing and use of scientific core facilities are available on a fee basis; however, each year the Vester Field Station Visiting Scientist Award Program supports several visiting scientists. Short-term visiting scientists are typically involved in a collaborative research project and stay at Vester for several days or weeks. Additionally, longer-term awardees may stay for 10-14 weeks in the summer to conduct independent and/or collaborative research. However, Visiting Scientist Awards can also be used to cover the costs of sabbatical-leave research at any time including during the traditional academic year Investigators who would benefit from the close proximity to southwest Florida habitats (e.g., near pristine to human-dominated estuaries, mangrove forests and near coastal habitats) and a modern research facility are encouraged to apply.

Proposals for field-based studies, mesocosm or bench-scale laboratory studies that can be supported by existing infrastructure will be considered. Investigators who propose collaborative research or research that has synergy with existing research and training programs will be favored. Information on the field station and the surrounding environs, and faculty associated with FGCU’s Marine Science and Environmental Science Program can be found elsewhere on this website.

Proposals can be for a single visit or for a multi-year project, and for a single investigator or for a team of collaborators. These elements should be clearly identified and described in the proposal. Resources for a multi-year proposal will require an annual application and is not guaranteed.

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Research Activities

Ecosystem Function and Trophic Transfer
Ecotoxicology
Estuarine Hydrodynamics and Sediment Transport
Estuarine Microbial Processes
Harmful Algal Blooms
Hurricane History of Southwest Florida
Invasive Species
Nutrient Biogeochemistry
Seagrass Ecology
Shellfish Biology and Ecosystem Restoration

Research at Vester

Eligibility
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Scientists at all levels of their career are eligible to apply for the Vester Field Station Visiting Scientist Program, e.g., graduate students, post docs and faculty. Undergraduate students are encouraged to visit FGCU’s Internship Award Program. Applicants should have an interest in the areas of marine and/or environmental science; however, those interested in biotechnology, engineering, and other technically-related fields are also invited to apply. We also strongly encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in the sciences.

Only individuals possessing strong academic credentials and a high degree of motivation will be selected. In order to be considered, individuals must meet all of the following qualifications at the time that they apply:
- Graduate students must be attending an accredited college or university; must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale and be in good standing with their graduate degree program.
- Postgraduate applicants still pursuing their degree must be on track to complete their degree prior to the starting date.
- Faculty applicants must be full-time, permanent faculty members at an accredited U.S. college or university.
Evaluation Criteria
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Applications for the Visiting Scientist Awards are due February 1 each year, and the awards will be made by March 31. Applications to take advantage of specific events, however, can be made at other times. If you have any questions about the Visiting Scientist Program, please contact Dr. Michael Parsons or Farida Sheikh for further information.
Application Details
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Application for Vester Field Station Visiting Scientist Award
- Name *
- Type of Application
- Direct Collaborator of FGCU Faculty Member;
- Name of FGCU Collaborator
- Independent, Visiting Scientist
- Institution *
- Address Line 2
- City
- State / Province / Region
- Postal / Zip Code
- Country
- Email address *
- International Phone Number
- PROPOSED dates of research visit *
Required Supplemental Documents
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Required Supplemental Documents
- Prepare Summary Research Proposal: Please provide a 2-page (maximum) research summary. The summary must include and address the following categories as subheadings in the text:
- Introduction: current area of research and what new work you would initiate while on site,
- Previous or potential collaborations with FGCU researchers,
- Experimental Plan: Describe the research experiments in non-technical detail and specific field and equipment access you would require.
- References should be provided and are not included in the 2-page text limit.
- Please also provide a CV (3 pg max) or short form biosketch.
- Letter of Collaboration/Support

Contact Details

Vester Marine & Environmental Science Research Field Station

Farida Sheikh
Administrative Assistant
5164 Bonita Beach Road
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
239-745-4707 | Contact Us

Media Contact: Kyle McCurry | 239-745-4507